DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.65478#0162
Earl of Bradford. Mary Wilbraham inherited her mother’s Staffordshire
property.
Grace Wilbraham was a considerable heiress, for she inherited not
only Woodhey and her father’s fine old manor-house there, but also an
extensive property in the neighbourhood. Her portion included the
advowson and the great tithes of Acton Church near Nantwich, and a
number of small properties or “ manors ” in other parts of Cheshire. One
of these manors, Mottram-in-Longendale, forms part of a wild hilly district
bounded by Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Lancashire. It could have been
of no value in 1689, but since that time part of it has been much appreciated
as a grouse-moor by Grace Wilbraham’s descendants.
Sir Thomas Wilbraham died in 1692, twelve years after his daughter’s
marriage to Lord Huntingtower. His widow survived him, and in 1700
she built a small chapel at Woodhey, over the door of which are the words:
For the True Service of God.
Woodhey had belonged to the Wilbraham family since 1269, and was
occupied by them until the death of Grace Wilbraham’s mother, Elizabeth
Lady Wilbraham. It was a fine place, with a large centre block of build-
ing and two wings. The centre formed one long room on the first floor
with five windows in a line, and at either side was a large projecting bay,
each furnished with a large window. Beyond these bays were two large
wings, one at either end of the main body of the house, and each wing
had nine windows, three being in front and three on each side. The
house was built of brick, raised high on four courses of stone-work, and
with coigns (or wedge-shaped corner stones), ranged from the ground to
the roof at every angle. Four stone steps led up to the front door. The
lower rooms opened upon fine gardens, with long raised terraces of
green turf.
The greater part of Woodhey was pulled down by Grace Wilbraham’s
miserly great-grandson, Lionel, fourth Earl of Dysart, merely to save the
expense of keeping it up. This was done in 1730, when Lord Dysart
destroyed the large gardens and the terraces which surrounded them;
and to complete his ruthless work he sold the wrought-iron entrance-gates
for 35*. 8</., and the massive stone pillars from which they hung for
^3 15J. 6d.
The portion of Woodhey which remained after these ravages was
turned into a farmhouse. The terraced gardens are now paddocks and
60
property.
Grace Wilbraham was a considerable heiress, for she inherited not
only Woodhey and her father’s fine old manor-house there, but also an
extensive property in the neighbourhood. Her portion included the
advowson and the great tithes of Acton Church near Nantwich, and a
number of small properties or “ manors ” in other parts of Cheshire. One
of these manors, Mottram-in-Longendale, forms part of a wild hilly district
bounded by Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Lancashire. It could have been
of no value in 1689, but since that time part of it has been much appreciated
as a grouse-moor by Grace Wilbraham’s descendants.
Sir Thomas Wilbraham died in 1692, twelve years after his daughter’s
marriage to Lord Huntingtower. His widow survived him, and in 1700
she built a small chapel at Woodhey, over the door of which are the words:
For the True Service of God.
Woodhey had belonged to the Wilbraham family since 1269, and was
occupied by them until the death of Grace Wilbraham’s mother, Elizabeth
Lady Wilbraham. It was a fine place, with a large centre block of build-
ing and two wings. The centre formed one long room on the first floor
with five windows in a line, and at either side was a large projecting bay,
each furnished with a large window. Beyond these bays were two large
wings, one at either end of the main body of the house, and each wing
had nine windows, three being in front and three on each side. The
house was built of brick, raised high on four courses of stone-work, and
with coigns (or wedge-shaped corner stones), ranged from the ground to
the roof at every angle. Four stone steps led up to the front door. The
lower rooms opened upon fine gardens, with long raised terraces of
green turf.
The greater part of Woodhey was pulled down by Grace Wilbraham’s
miserly great-grandson, Lionel, fourth Earl of Dysart, merely to save the
expense of keeping it up. This was done in 1730, when Lord Dysart
destroyed the large gardens and the terraces which surrounded them;
and to complete his ruthless work he sold the wrought-iron entrance-gates
for 35*. 8</., and the massive stone pillars from which they hung for
^3 15J. 6d.
The portion of Woodhey which remained after these ravages was
turned into a farmhouse. The terraced gardens are now paddocks and
60